Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02821533 2013-07-19
LOCKABLE LOCKSET OPERABLE BY EITHER AXIAL OR
ROTATIONAL KNOB MOVEMENT
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of locksets for doors.
More specifically,
it relates to locksets having a latch bolt that is actuated by axial or
rotational movement of a door
knob.
[0002] Non-lockable door locksets that have a knob-actuated latch bolt in
which the latch
bolt may be actuated either by an axial ("push-pull") movement of the knob on
either side of the
lockset, or by rotational movement of the knobs on either side of the lockset,
are well-known.
Typically, these locksets are operated by pushing the outside knob, pulling
the inside knob, or
rotating either knob in either direction to retract the latch bolt. Lockable
locksets with knob-
actuated latch bolts that may be actuated by rotational movement of the knobs
are ubiquitous.
The locking function, however, introduces complexities in locksets, which
complexities have not
previously been adequately resolved for locksets that are actuable by axial
movement of the
knobs.
[0003] There is a need for a practical lockset that is operable in a push-pull
mode, or both a
push-pull mode and a rotational mode, and that is also selectively lockable
from one or both
sides. Such a lockset preferably can be easily installable in standard doors
(i.e., doors of
standard thickness), and preferably is relatively simple and inexpensive to
manufacture, of
durable construction, and reliable in operation.
1
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure relates to a lockable lockset having a knob-
actuated latch
bolt that may be actuated either by axial ("push-pull") movement or by
rotational movement of
the knobs on either side of the lockset. The lockset combines elements of a
modified cylindrical
lockset with modified locking components more often used in tubular keyed
entry locksets to
make a lockset in which the latch bolt may be retracted by either axial "push-
pull" movement of
the knobs or bi-directional rotation movement of either the outside or inside
knob, and in which
the knobs can be locked against both axial and rotational movement for
retracting the latch bolt
through the use of a locking bar-actuated locking plates that engage the
tubular structure of the
lockset. The locking may be effected by a keyed cylinder or by a turnpiece
accessible on the
inside knob of the door, or, in another configuration, by a non-keyed cylinder
that can be
operated rotationally by a flat object on the outside knob, and by the
turnpiece noted in the
previous configuration on the inside knob. The former configuration is typical
of a lockset that
is lockable from the outside of the door, and the latter is typical of a
lockset having a privacy
lock on the inside of the door.
100051 Broadly, the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to a
lockable lockset,
comprising: an actuator unit comprising an inside knob, an outside knob, and a
cam mechanism,
the cam mechanism being operatively coupled to the inside knob and the outside
knob; a latch
retractor mechanism having a latch bolt that is movable between an extended
position and a
retracted position; a mounting unit configured to attach to a door, the
mounting unit supporting
the actuator unit and the latch retractor mechanism so that the actuator unit
and at least a portion
of the latch retractor mechanism can move relative to the mounting unit and
each other, the
actuator unit being movable rotationally about an axis of the actuator unit
and axially along the
axis of the actuator unit, the actuator unit configured to move as a unit
during axial and rotational
movement; the cam mechanism having a first cam surface configured to engage
the latch
retractor mechanism during axial movement of the actuator unit so as to move
the latch bolt from
the extended position to the retracted position; the cam mechanism having a
second cam surface
configured to engage the latch retractor mechanism during rotational movement
of the actuator
unit so as to move the latch bolt from the extended position to the retracted
position; and a
locking mechanism configured to move between a retracted position and a
radially extended
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position, the locking mechanism being carried by the actuator unit so that the
locking mechanism
moves axially and rotationally with the actuator unit; wherein the actuator
unit is biased toward a
neutral position in which the latch bolt is in the extended position, the
locking mechanism being
aligned with a lock receiver of the mounting unit when the actuator unit is in
the neutral position;
and wherein the receiver is configured to receive the locking mechanism when
the locking
mechanism is aligned with the receiver and is in the radially extended
position so that when the
locking mechanism is received by the receiver the actuator unit is prevented
from moving both
rotationally and axially relative to the mounting unit.
[0005a] In another aspect, there is described a lockable lockset, comprising:
an actuator
unit comprising a first knob, a second knob, and a spindle mechanism, the
spindle mechanism
being operatively coupled to the first knob and the second knob so that the
first knob, second
knob and spindle mechanism move together as a unit, the spindle mechanism
having first and
second cam surfaces; the first knob has a first lock actuator, the second knob
has a second lock
actuator, and a locking bar extends between and is operatively coupled to the
first and second
lock actuators, the locking bar intersecting the first cam surface and being
spaced from the
second cam surface; a latch retractor mechanism having a latch bolt that is
movable between an
extended position and a retracted position, the latch retractor mechanism
comprising first and
second cam follower surfaces, a space being defined between the first and
second cam follower
surfaces; a mounting unit configured to attach to a door, the mounting unit
supporting the
actuator unit and the latch retractor mechanism so that the actuator unit and
at least a portion of
the latch retractor mechanism can move relative to the mounting unit and each
other, the actuator
unit being movable rotationally about an axis of the spindle mechanism and
axially along the
axis of the spindle mechanism; the first cam surface of the spindle mechanism
arranged so as to
engage at least one of the first and second cam follower surfaces of the latch
retractor mechanism
during axial movement of the actuator unit so as to move the latch bolt from
the extended
position toward the retracted position; and the second cam surface of the
spindle mechanism
arranged so as to engage one of the first and second cam follower surfaces of
the latch retractor
mechanism during rotational movement of the actuator unit so as to move the
latch bolt from the
extended position toward the retracted position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a lockset in accordance with the
present
disclosure installed in a door;
[0007] FIG. 1B shows the assembly of FIG. 1 A in a configuration in which a
latch bolt of
the lockset has been retracted by rotation of a door knob of the lockset;
[0008] FIG. 1C shows the assembly of FIG. 1A in a configuration in which a
latch bolt of
the lockset has been retracted by axial translation of door knobs of the
lockset;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the assembly
of FIG. 1A;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows another view of part of the the assembly of FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a lockset in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an outside knob assembly of the
lockset of FIG.
4;
[0013] FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the outside knob
assembly of FIG. 5;
[0014] FIG. 7 shows an exploded perspective view of a latch bolt retractor
assembly
employed in the lockset embodiment of FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 8A shows a view taken along lines 8A-8A of FIG. 1A;
[0016] FIG. 8B shows a view taken along lines 8B-8B of FIG. 1B;
[0017] FIG. 9 shows a partially cut away cross sectional view of a
preferred embodiment of
the present disclosure mounted on a door in functional cooperation with a
latch in a first, or
neutral, position;
3a
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[0018] FIG. 10 shows the assembly of FIG. 9 with the latch in a second, or
activated,
position;
[0019] FIG. 11A shows a simplified elevational view, partially in cross-
section, of the
outside knob and cam spindle assembly in a first, or unlocked, configuration;
[0020] FIG. 11B shows the outside knob and cam spindle assembly of FIG. 11A
in a
second, or locked, configuration;
[0021] FIG. 12A shows a transverse cross-sectional view along line 12A-12A
of FIG. 11A;
and
[0022] FIG. 12B shows a transverse cross-sectional view along line 12B-12B
of FIG. 11B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] FIG. IA shows a perspective view of a lockset 10, in accordance with
a preferred
embodiment of the present disclosure, installed on a door 12. The lockset 10
has an inside knob
14 and an outside knob 16. As shown in FIG. 1B, the outside knob 16 is shown
as being
rotatable to retract a latch bolt 62. Likewise, the inside knob 14 is
similarly rotatable to retract
the latch bolt 62. With additional reference to FIG. 1C, knobs 14, 16 are
shown as being axially
translatable to retract the latch bolt 62. More specifically, as outside knob
16 is pushed and
axially translated as shown in FIG. 1C, the latch bolt 62 is retracted.
Pulling on the inside knob
14 will have the same effect. As such, in the illustrated embodiment the latch
bolt 62 is
retractable by rotating either of the knobs 14, 16 either clockwise or
counterclockwise, or by
moving the knobs axially by either pushing the outside knob 16 or pulling the
inside knob 14.
As will be discussed in more detail below, embodiments of the illustrated
lockset 10 may be
locked against pushing, pulling or rotational operation when the latch bolt is
in its extended
position, whereby the door 12 is locked shut.
[0024] With reference next to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the lockset 10 preferably
comprises an
outside knob assembly 20 that fits through a door mount hole 18 so that a
latch bolt retractor
housing assembly 50 sits within the hole 18. A mounting plate 72 can be used
to secure the
outside knob assembly 20 in place. In the illustrated embodiment, screws 74
extend through
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holes 76 in the mounting plate 72 (see FIG. 4) and attach to threaded holes
172 (see FIG. 7) in
the latch bolt retractor housing assembly 50 so as to hold the outside knob
assembly 20 in place.
An inside cover plate 70, or "rose", is threaded onto a portion of the latch
bolt retractor housing
assembly 50, and the inside knob 14 is attached to the outside knob assembly
20. A latch bolt
assembly 60 having the latch bolt 62 fits through a latch bolt passage 19 in
the door 12 so that
the latch bolt assembly 60 can connect to the latch bolt retractor housing
assembly 50.
[0025] There are several styles and designs for locksets, and it is
anticipated that other types
of structures can be employed, For example, in some embodiments, the inside
cover plate 70
may be connected to the mounting plate 72 by, for example, an interference fit
between the
circumference of the mounting plate 72 and a mating inside surface of the
cover plate 70. In
other embodiments a leaf spring may be dimensioned and located to exert a
force to the inside
diameter of the cover plate 70 to retain it in place. In further embodiments
the mounting plate 72
and inside cover 70 may be formed as a single, unitary component, and can be
held in place by
fasteners such as screws or bolts that may pass through clearance holes in the
cover plate and
through holes in the mounting plate, and attach to threaded holes in the latch
bolt retractor
housing assembly.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a lockset 10 and its
major
components. The outside knob assembly 20 includes the outside door knob 16
fixed to a first
end of a cam element 22 by a tubular outside knob spindle 24. The cam element
22 is
advantageously inserted through an outside finishing ring 26 and an outside
cover plate 28, or
rose, for mounting the outside knob assembly 20 on the outside of the door 12,
as is well-known
in the art. The outside cover plate 28 is threaded onto a first externally-
threaded tubular hub 30
on a first end of the latch bolt retractor housing assembly 50 (described in
detail below), so that
the cam element 22 extends through the latch bolt retractor housing assembly
50.
10027] With continued reference to FIG. 4, a first end of an inside spindle
54 is received in
a second externally-threaded tubular hub 56 on a second end of the latch bolt
retractor housing
assembly 50, and can be attached to the second end of the cam element 22 by a
spindle clip 58
and tabs (not shown) on the inside spindle 54, which tabs may be bent inward
so as to engage the
cam element 22. The inside spindle 54 has a second end to which the inside
door knob 14 is
CA 02821533 2013-07-19
fixed. The inside door knob can have a turnpiece 59 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) for
actuating a locking
mechanism. The latch bolt retractor housing assembly 50 is attached to the
latch bolt assembly
60, including the latch bolt 62 and a latch bolt cylinder 64, in a manner to
be described below.
[0028] With reference next to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the illustrated embodiment,
the outside
knob assembly 20 includes the outside knob 16, the cam element 22, and the
outside knob
spindle 24. The outside knob 16 is secured to a tubular first fitting 82 (Fig.
6) at a first or outer
end of the cam element 22 by the tubular outside knob spindle 24. The cam
element 22 also
includes a second fitting 84 at a second or inner end of the cam element 22,
the second fitting 84
being connected to the first fitting 82 by an arcuate connecting segment 86
defining a flat open
area between the first fitting 82 and the second fitting 84. The first fitting
82 provides a first cam
defined by an inclined camming surface 88 connecting the first fitting 82 to
the connecting
segment 86 and facing the open area. The arcuate connecting segment 86
provides a second cam
defined by opposed longitudinal camming edges 94 defining opposed sides of the
flat open area.
The second fitting 84 includes an axial through-bore 90, and preferably is
partially cylindrical,
with a substantially flat axial surface 92 and an arcuate outer surface 93.
[0029] With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the first fitting 82
includes a diametric
channel 95 that is dimensioned and located to receive a pair of locking plates
96 installed in the
first fitting 82. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking plates 96 are
elongate and flat, and
have a thickness and width. Opposing ends of the elongate locking plates 96
preferably are
arcuate, preferably having a curvature that generally follows the curvature of
the outer surfaces
of the outside knob spindle 24 and the cam element 22.
[0030] The channel 95 is elongated in a circumferential direction generally
corresponding to
the width of the locking plates 96. In a preferred embodiment, the channel 95
has a width along
the longitudinal axis of the cam element 22 generally corresponding to double
the width of each
locking plate 96 so that the channel 95 can slidably complementarily
accommodate both locking
plates 96 therein. In other embodiments, the channel 95 may be configured to
complementarily
accommodate only a single one of the locking plates 96.
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the outside knob spindle 24 fits onto
and engages the
first fitting 82 of the cam element 22. Cutouts 25 in the outside knob spindle
24 are dimensioned
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and located to align with the channel 95 so as to also complementarily
accommodate the locking
plates 96 and enable unrestricted lateral movement of the locking plates 96.
[0032] Continuing with reference to FIG. 6, each of the illustrated locking
plates 96 has an
aperture 98 configured to receive a rotatable tailpiece or locking bar 100
extending therethrough.
Preferably the locking bar 100 also extends through the tubular outside knob
spindle 24, through
the tubular first fitting 82, across the open area of the connecting element
86 and through the
bore 90 of the second fitting 84. Each of the apertures 98 is configured with
a camming edge, so
that during axial rotation of the locking bar 100, the locking bar engages the
camming edges of
the apertures 98 so as to move the locking plates 96 radially in diametrically
opposite directions
through the channel 95 between a withdrawn first (unlocked) position and an
exended second
(locked) position. In the first (unlocked) position, the locking plates 96 are
radially retracted
within the channel 95. In the second (locked) position, the locking plates 96
are radially
deployed so as to extend outwardly from the channel 95 and radially outwardly
from a surface of
the cam element 22 and/or spindle 24, as depicted in FIG. 5 and described more
fully below.
[0033] In the illustrated embodiment the outside knob 16 includes a keyed
lock cylinder
102, preferably of conventional design, that is operatively connected to a
first end of the
rotatable locking bar 100. The locking bar 100 extends through the entire
length of the cam
element 22, passing through the outside knob spindle 24, the first fitting 82,
the open space
defined by the connecting segment 86, and the axial bore 90 of the second
fitting 84, terminating
in a second or inner end 105 that is connected to the turnpiece 59 of the
inside knob 14 (see
FIGS. 9 and 10). The locking bar 100 preferably is flattened, and, as will be
discussed below, is
rotatable between a first position and second position to move the pair of
locking plates 96
radially in and out of the channel 95 so as to allow the lockset to be
selectively locked against
operation of the latch bolt by axial or rotational movement. A locking bar
guide plate 103 may
advantageously be rotatably installed in the first fitting 82 to maintain the
locking bar 100 in
proper operational alignment and engagement with the locking plates 96. A
spring 101 may also
be provided in the first cam element fitting 82 to engage the locking plates
96 with an axially-
applied force so as to maintain them in operational alignment with the channel
95.
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[0034] Referring next to FIG. 7, the illustrated latch bolt retractor
housing assembly 50
includes the first externally-threaded tubular hub 30 having an open first end
that receives a
locking sleeve 104 within it. The first open end of the first tubular hub 30
has a pair of
diametrically-opposed axial slots 106 (only one of which is shown), and it is
provided with an
end flange 108 having a pair of diametrically-opposed radial slots 110 (only
one of which is
shown), each of which is contiguous with one of the axial slots 106. Each pair
of slots 106, 110
receives one of a diametrically-opposed pair of anti-rotation nubs 112 (only
one which is shown)
on the locking sleeve 104. The engagement of the nubs 112 in the slots 106,
110 maintains the
locking sleeve 104 in a desired alignment relative to the latch bolt retractor
housing assembly 50
and prevents the locking sleeve 104 from rotating relative to the latch bolt
retractor housing
assembly 50.
[0035] The locking sleeve 104 has a front face with a pair of diametrically-
opposed cut-outs
114 communicating with the channel 95. Each of the cut-outs 114 is sized to
accommodate one
of the pair of locking plates 96 when it is moved radially outward from the
channel 95 to its
locked position as described above. Each cutout 114 is defined by opposing
edge surfaces and
an axial stop surface extending between the edge surfaces. Preferably a width
between the edge
surfaces of each cutout 114 is complementary to a width of the corresponding
locking plate 96 so
that the locking plate 96 can be received into the cutout with only small
clearances between the
edges of the plate and the edge surfaces of the cutout 114. In other
embodiments, the cutouts
114 can comprise apertures formed through the locking sleeve 104 so that each
cutout 114
circumferentially surrounds the portion of a locking plate 96 that is extended
into the cutout 114,
with opposing axial stop surfaces that are spaced apart a distance
complementary to a thickness
of the locking plate.
100361 Continuing with reference to FIG. 7, a latch bolt retractor housing
116 comprises a
top wall 118 and a bottom wall 120 joined by a vertical wall 122 defining an
opening 124. A
pair of spring seats 126 (only one of which is shown) extend upwardly from the
bottom wall 120
and downwardly from the top wall 118. The first tubular hub 30 is passed
through the opening
124 in the vertical wall 122 until the end flange 108 of the first tubular hub
30 abuts against the
vertical wall 122. A fixation plate 128 fits into the inside of the latch bolt
retractor housing 116
until it abuts against the flange 108 of the first tubular hub 30 to fix the
first tubular hub 30 in the
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latch bolt retractor housing 116. The fixation plate 128 may be secured to the
latch bolt retractor
housing 116 by tabs 130 that are engaged in a pair of notches 132 in the top
wall 118 and bottom
wall 120, respectively, of the latch bolt retractor housing 116 near their
respective junctures with
the vertical wall 122.
[0037] The latch bolt retractor housing 116 is configured to accommodate a
latch bolt
retractor 140. The latch bolt retractor 140 is movable laterally with respect
to an axis of the latch
bolt retractor housing 116, and it is biased in a radially outward direction
by a pair of coil springs
142 having inner ends seated on the spring seats 126 in the latch bolt
retractor housing 116. The
springs 142 act through a spring plate 144 seated within the latch bolt
retractor 140. The latch
bolt retractor 140 has an outer wall formed as a pair of parallel rails 146
that define a slot 148
between them. The rails 146 and the slot 148 can be of conventional design,
configured for
operative engagement, respectively, with a pair of notches 61 (see FIGS. 8A
and 8B) of a latch
bolt actuator 63 (see FIG. 8B) in the latch bolt assembly 60. Thus, as in
conventional locksets of
this general type, movement of the retractor 140 radially inward into the
latch bolt retractor
housing 116 against the force of the springs 142 retracts or withdraws the
latch bolt 62 (see FIG.
4) axially through the latch bolt cylinder 64 to a withdrawn or disengaged
position, while
movement of the retractor 140 outwardly from the latch bolt retractor housing
116 under the
force of the springs 142 allows the latch bolt 62 to be extended outwardly
from the cylinder 64 to
its extended or engaged position. The side of the latch bolt retractor housing
116 opposite the
vertical wall 122 is closed by a housing support plate 150, which is attached
to the top wall 118
and the bottom wall 120 of the latch bolt retractor housing 116 by means of
tabs 152 on the top
wall 118 and the bottom wall 120 that engage with notches 154 in the support
plate 150.
[0038] Continuing with reference to FIG. 7, an inside spindle bushing 160
is seated within
the second tubular hub 56 which extends from an apertured wall 162 of a
retractor housing cover
164. The retractor housing cover 164 has a cylindrical shroud 166 with a cut-
out 168. The
cylindrical shroud 166 is dimensioned to fit over the latch bolt retractor
housing 116, with the
cut-out 168 positioned so that the latch bolt retractor 140 can extend through
the cut-out 168
when biased radially outward by the springs 142.
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10039] The retractor housing cover 164 is attached to the retractor housing
116 by tabs 152
that pass through slots 163 in the apertured wall 162 of the retractor housing
cover 164. The tabs
152 can be bent or twisted to secure the components together. Holes 170 in the
apertured wall
162 of the retractor housing cover 164 each align with a threaded hole 172 in
each of a pair of
diametrically opposed ears 174 of the housing support plate 150. A threaded
fastener (not
shown) can be extended through the aligned holes to secure the retractor
housing cover 164 to
the housing support plate 150.
100401 Both the first tubular hub 30 and the second tubular hub 56 have
external threads for
the installation of the outside mounting plate 28 and the inside cover plate
70, respectively. An
inside finishing ring 176 may be provided to fit over the end of the second
tubular hub 56 to
provide an aesthetically pleasing finish between the second tubular hub 56 and
the inside door
knob 14. The outside finishing ring 26 may be provided to fit over the end of
the first tubular
hub 30 to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish between the first tubular
hub 30 and the outside
door knob 16.
[0041] As explained more fully below, the above described arrangement
allows the outside
knob assembly 20 and the inside spindle 54 (to which is fixed the inside knob
14) to move
axially and rotationally as a single unit. Thus, pushing the outside knob 16
or pulling the inside
knob 14 causes the cam element 22 and the inside spindle 54 to translate
together axially relative
to the latch bolt retractor 140, while rotating the outside knob 16 or
rotating the inside knob 14
causes the cam element 22 and the inside spindle 54 to rotate together
relative to the latch bolt
retractor 140. This assembly of the inside and outside knobs 14, 16 and the
components that
connect the knobs so that they move axially and rotationally as a single unit
can be referred to as
the knob unit or actuator unit.
100421 With reference next to FIGS. 8A and 8B, front sectional views of the
assembly
installed in a door 12 show the rotational operation of one embodiment. In
FIG. 8A, the latch
bolt 62 is in its extended or engaged position. The latch bolt actuator 63 of
the latch bolt
assembly 60 is engaged in the slot 148 between the rails 146 of the latch bolt
retractor 140, with
the rails 146 captured in the actuator notches 61, as described above. Within
the latch bolt
retractor housing 116, the springs 142 are extended, pushing the spring plate
144 against the
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latch bolt retractor 140, which is engaged with the connecting segment 86 of
the cam element 22.
Rotation of one of the knobs 14, 16 causes corresponding rotation of the cam
element 22 as
depicted in FIG. 8B. As the cam element 22 rotates, one of the cam edges 94 of
the connecting
segment 86 engages the latch bolt retractor 140, compressing the springs 142
and moving the
latch bolt retractor 140 transversely away from the edge of the door.
Specifically, rotation of the
cam element 22 in a first direction brings one of the cam edges 94 to bear
against the latch bolt
retractor 140, while rotation of the cam element 22 in the opposite direction
brings the other of
the cam edges 94 to bear against the latch bolt retractor. In either case, the
engagement of one of
the cam edges 94 against the latch bolt retractor 140 translates both latch
bolt retractor 140 and
the latch bolt actuator 63 of the latch bolt assembly 60. Because the latch
bolt 62 is connected to
the latch bolt actuator 63, the latch bolt 62 is thus moved to its withdrawn
or disengaged
position.
[0043] With reference next to FIGS. 9 and 10, transverse top cross-section
views of a
lockset in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure installed in a
door 12 show
translational operation of the lockset. The lockset is unlocked, and in FIG 9
it is in a "neutral"
position, in which it has not been translated or rotated. The inclined cam
surface 88 of the cam
element 22 is adjacent and/or in contact with the latch bolt retractor 140,
but exerts no force
against it, as indicated by the springs 142 being uncompressed. As such, the
latch bolt retractor
140 is in an extended position relative to the latch bolt retractor housing
116. When the latch
bolt retractor 140 is in this extended position, the latch bolt 62, which is
engaged by the retractor
140, is likewise in its extended or disengaged position as shown.
[0044] With reference next to FIG. 10, when the cam element 22 and the
inside spindle 54
are moved axially by either pushing the outside knob 16 or pulling the inside
knob 14 (i.e.,
moving left to right as shown by the arrow), the inclined cam surface 88 of
the cam element 22
engages the latch bolt retractor 140, driving the latch bolt retractor 140
radially inward against
the bias of the springs 142, thereby urging the latch bolt 62 to its withdrawn
or disengaged
position. The springs 142 are compressed, so that when the axial force on the
knobs 14, 16 is
released, the springs 142 drive the latch bolt retractor 140 radially outward
to return the latch
bolt 62 to its extended position, while at the same time the engagement of the
retractor 140
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against the inclined cam surface 88 drives the cam element 22 and the inside
spindle 54 back to
the neutral position shown in FIG. 9.
[0045] With reference next to FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B, the locking
plates 96 are
moveable between a retracted or unlocked position and an extended or locked
position. In their
extended or locked position, the locking plates 96 prevent the rotation or
translation of the
lockset by their engagement with the locking sleeve 104. When the extended
locking plates 96
are engaged with the locking sleeve 104, the plates 96 extend radially from
the channel 95
through the sleeve cut-outs 114. The locking sleeve 104 is attached to the
latch bolt housing
assembly 50, and thus is immobile relative to the door. As such, edges of the
locking plates 96
engage edge surfaces of the locking sleeve cut-outs 114 so as to prevent the
cam element 22 and
the associated inside spindle 54 and knobs 14, 16 from rotating. Faces of the
locking plates 96
engage the axial stop surface of the associated cut-outs 114 so as to prevent
the cam element 22
and the associated inside spindle 54 and knobs 14, 16 from moving
longitudinally relative to the
latch bolt retractor housing assembly 50. As such, when in the extended or
locked position, the
locking plates 96 engage with the locking sleeve 104 to prevent the knobs 14,
16 and associated
spindles both from moving rotationally and from translating axially.
100461 The locking plates 96 are adjacent one another in the illustrated
embodiment, and
thus the faces of the plates are closely spaced from each other
longitudinally. In some
embodiments, the cutouts 114 are identical on opposing sides of the locking
sleeve 104. As
such, when in the extended or locked position, only one of the plates 96 will
engage the axial
stop surface of its associated cutout 114, while the other plate will be
spaced from its associated
cutout axial stop surface. In other embodiments, the cutouts 114 on opposing
sides of the
locking sleeve 104 are positioned so that the axial stop surfaces of the
cutouts are longitudinally
spaced to correspond with the longitudinal spacing of the locking plate faces.
As such, when in
the extended or locked position, each of the locking plates 96 will engage the
associated cutout
axial stop surface.
100471 FIGS. 11A and 12A show the outside knob 16 connected to the cam
element 22
positioned within the first tubular hub 30 and the locking sleeve 104. The
locking bar 100 is in a
first or unlocked rotational position, which, by its engagement with the
locking plates 96, places
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the locking plates 96 in their first or retracted (withdrawn) position within
the channel 95 of the
first fitting 82 of the cam element 22. This first, or unlocked, rotational
position of the locking
bar 100 places the lockset in an unlocked condition, in which the outside knob
16 and the inside
knob 14, connected by the cam element 22, the outside spindle 24, and the
inside spindle 54 (i.e.,
the actuator unit), are free to be translated axially through the retractor
housing assembly 50, of
which first tubular hub 30 and the locking sleeve 104 are a part. In this
unlocked condition, the
actuator unit can rotate and translate freely in the latch bolt retractor
housing assembly 50,
thereby enabling the rotational and axial operation of the lockset.
[0048] FIGS. 11B and 12B show the cam element 22 after either the keyed
cylinder 102
(FIG. 6) of the outside door knob 16 or the tumpiece 59 (FIGS. 9 and 10) on
the inside door
knob 14 has been operated so as to rotate the locking bar 100 from its first
or unlocked rotational
position to a second or locked rotational position. As depicted in FIGS. 12A
and 12B, when the
locking bar 100 rotates, it engages surfaces of the locking plate engagement
apertures 98,
imparting a camming effect that causes the locking plates 96 to move radially
outward though
the channel 95 and into the cut-outs 114 from their first or retracted
position to their second or
extended position. In their second or extended position, the locking plates 96
enter the cut-outs
114 of the locking sleeve 104, so that the locking plates 96 engage the side
walls and the
recessed arcuate face of the locking cut-outs 114 when they are in their
extended position. In the
illustrated embodiment, the locking plates are arranged immediately adjacent
one another, and
the engagement apertures 98 of the locking plates 96 are configured so that
rotation of the
locking bar 100 from the first to the second position urges a first one of the
locking plates in a
first radial direction and a second one of the locking plates in a
diametrically-opposing second
radial direction, so that the locking plates 96 engage respective first and
second cut-outs 114 that
are also diametrically opposed.
[0049] Each of the locking sleeve cut-outs 114 is located and sized to
receive and
accommodate one of the locking plates 96 when the locking plates 96 are
extended through the
channel 95 into their respective locking sleeve cut-outs 114, with each of the
locking plates 96
engaging the side walls of its respective cut-out 114. Each of the locking
plates 96 is thus
confined within its corresponding cut-out 114 by the side walls and the
recessed axial arcuate
surface of the cut-out 114. More specifically, the engagement of the locking
plates 96 with the
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CA 02821533 2013-07-19
recessed arcuate face of the locking sleeve cut-outs 114 prevents
translational motion of the
lockset in the axial direction, while the engagement of the locking plates 96
with the side walls
of the cut-outs 114 prevents rotational motion, all relative to the latch bolt
retractor housing 116.
[0050] Thus, either of the locking plates 96 locks the lockset both axially
and rotationally,
because the locking plates 96 and all connecting structures (the actuator
unit) are prevented from
movement relative to the latch bolt retractor housing 116 by the confinement
of the locking
plates 96 within the locking sleeve cut-outs 114. The lockset is thereby
locked against both
rotational and axial movement of the actuator unit relative to the latch bolt
retractor housing
assembly 50.
[0051] In other embodiments, rather than employing locking plates 96 having
the specific
structure discussed above, locking members having other shapes, such as
cylindrical or
semicircular in cross-section, can be configured to be forced radially
outwardly upon actuation of
the locking bar 100, and complementarily shaped cutouts 114 can receive such
locking members
so as to provide a rotational and axial locking effect, as discussed above.
[0052] The embodiments discussed above have disclosed structures with
substantial
specificity. This has provided a good context for disclosing and discussing
inventive subject
matter. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments may employ
different specific
structural shapes and interactions. For example, in some embodiments the latch
bolt retractor
housing assembly 50 may comprise more or fewer parts assembled similarly or
differently than
as discussed, and a cam element 22 and inside spindle 54 may attach to one
another or their
respective knobs 16, 14 with structure employing more, less, or differently-
shaped parts that may
connect with one another in different ways than as specifically shown and
discussed in the
illustrated embodiments. However, preferably the door knobs are part of an
actuator unit that
includes a cam mechanism so that rotation or axial translation of the door
knobs actuates a latch
bolt retractor assembly as discussed. A mounting unit of the lockset
preferably is configured to
be rigidly attached to the associated door, and the actuator unit and latch
retractor assembly are
supported by the mounting unit. A locking mechanism selectively acts between
the mounting
unit and the actuator unit to prevent both rotation and axial translation of
the door knobs
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CA 02821533 2013-07-19
(actuator unit) relative to the mounting unit, and in turn the latch bolt
retractor assembly, so as to
prevent actuation of the latch bolt retractor assembly.
[0053]
Although inventive subject matter has been disclosed in the context of certain
preferred or illustrated embodiments and examples, it will be understood by
those skilled in the
art that the inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically
disclosed embodiments to
other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious
modifications and
equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the
disclosed embodiments
have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within
the scope of the
inventive subject matter, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the
art based upon this
disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or
subcombinations of the specific
features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be made and still fall
within the scope of
the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, it should be understood that
various features and
aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for
one another in
order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventive subject matter. Thus,
it is intended that
the scope of the inventive subject matter herein disclosed should not be
limited by the particular
disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair
reading of the
claims that follow.
